Marcel Duchamp (1887–1968)
Nu descendant un escalier, No. 2 (Nude Descending a Staicase, No. 2), 1937
Collotype colored pochoir
13.8 x 7.9 in.
35 x 20 cm
MDuc_002
b. 1887, Blainville-Crevon, France
d. 1968, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Marcel Duchamp was a French artist whose groundbreaking ideas reshaped the landscape of modern art. A key figure in both the Dada and Surrealist movements, Duchamp rejected traditional aesthetics and focused on intellectual engagement in art. His early works, such as Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 (1912), drew attention for blending Cubist and Futurist influences to capture movement. In 1917, his Fountain—a porcelain urinal signed "R. Mutt"—challenged conventional definitions of art, becoming one of the most provocative works of the 20th century. Duchamp later created Boîte-en-valise, a portable "museum" of his art, highlighting his fascination with replication and authenticity. His concept of the "readymade" influenced generations of artists, establishing him as a pioneer in conceptual art. Duchamp’s legacy endures as one of relentless innovation, forever questioning the boundaries of what art can be.
